Creamy cauliflower risotto soy maple thyme mushrooms
Creamy cauliflower risotto soy maple thyme mushrooms has been the top point of my week so far, I tell you this week been rough and a comfy bowl of risotto just hit the spot. Thank goodness its Friday tomorrow! I am Presque fini with my vegan baking course that I have been racing to the finish this past week and I kindly note, that this risotto just might make your day too. It’s tangy, sweet, cheezy with hints of thyme in between every bite.
Blood orange waffles
Blood orange waffles couldn’t come at a better time. It’s spring pretty soon and oh my goodness I cannot wait. It’s been a pretty tough two weeks since my son’s second birthday. The notorious flue has gotten it grips on me. Hopefully it soon will pass, but for now, a crunchy stack of gluten-free waffles with these tangy blood oranges will suffice! I topped these vegan waffles with homemade coconut yogurt, bananas, coconut nectar and salted pistachio’s.
Chocolate marble banana bread
Chocolate marble banana bread is just another love declaration to my all time favorite baked bread ever. I have made so many variations and every time that one is my favorite, but I have to say banana and chocolate go so well together. And most people would say chocolate goes well with most deserty things, but banana is the perfect dance partner! This bread is especially yum because within every bite you get a melty bit of chocolate, who can say no to that?
Salted caramel apple galette de rois
Recipe Gallery Share the Love ]Salted caramel apple galette de Rois is my vegan spin on the traditional French pastry that is in almost every bakery in France. This age old tradition has quite a bit of history behind it and I am pretty sure that the original pastry is the king of all kings, but my version came pretty close. There are quite a few varieties that you can make, but I thought the best kind of filling must be salted caramel with apple and a frangipane filling. What can beat almond, apple and caramel laced in a flaky dough. Salted caramel apple galette de Rois is my vegan spin on the traditional French pastry that is in almost every bakery in France. This age-old tradition has quite a bit of history behind it and I am pretty sure that the original pastry is the king of all kings, but my version came pretty close. There are quite a few varieties that you can make, but I thought the best kind of filling must be salted caramel with apple and a frangipane filling. What can beat almond, apple, and caramel laced in a flaky dough? I made another galette a couple years ago, filled it with Nutella and strawberries, but it wasn’t quite the right kind of fit for this season. It was when we just arrived in France and I was smitten with the combination of puff pastry and it’s royal love affair with almond frangipane. The French are the connoisseurs of pastry and that is a for sure a fact. I really always wanted to dive into making their decadent pastries, but since becoming vegan getting qualified the vegan way is very very difficult in France. Veganism slowly but surely getting more and more known for the French culture, just as it is the same in South Africa. So it might take a couple years to catch on. It is really a passion of mine to have my very own cafe or even vegan baking school to equip and provide these services, or even to make the traditional food that I know and love from France and South Africa in a more plant-based friendly manner. A Girl can dream am I right? It will take a while though before this will become a reality and I have to say that since the year has started two of my goals has already been realized. So it’s good setting goals and just taking the plunge and believing that you are capable to make things happen. Sometimes it just takes time and mostly when the time is right, otherwise, you won’t be ready. One thing you won’t need a lot of time waiting for is this amazing galette de Rois. I asked a few Frenchies and not a lot of them know the exact reason for the whole tradition, to know more click here. Any tradition that involves food is a def go in my book, especially pastry! Recipe 0 Prep Time 0 Cook Time Serves 4 4 – 6 People Difficulty 0 Beginner Ingredients Two sheets of vegan puff pastry (for homemade click Here) 2-3 sliced granny smith apples 1/2 cup Vegan caramel sauce Flaky sea salt Vegan frangipane filling 1/3 cup olive oil or coconut oil melted 2/3 cup coconut sugar or maple syrup 2/3 cup gluten-free flour or plain all purpose flour 1/4 cup aquafaba (chickpea brine from a tin) 2 cups almond meal 1/2 tsp almond essence or vanilla essence Pinch of salt Method Preheat oven to 175 degrees Celcius. Start by making the frangipane filling, mix together the almond flour, flour, oil, aquafaba, salt and vanilla essence. Whisk very well until the frangipane comes together and then set aside. Spread out the puff pastry and cut into a circle by using a plate or tart base. Smear on the frangipane evenly on the bottom layer, leaving about one and half cm open on the edges of the puff pastry and then layer the sliced granny smith apple. Then brush over the cooled vegan caramel, sprinkle on some salt flakes and then wet the sides of the puff pastry of the bottom layer and then add the second layer of puff pastry on top. Make designs on the top part of the puff pastry with a very sharp knife, be careful not to push all the way through. Brush the top with melted vegan butter and then bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown on top. Wait to cool before slicing and serving, you can serve this galette with some vanilla ice cream or whipped coconut cream. Place in an airtight container for up to one day, after that the pastry isn’t as fresh so best to serve it the day you made it. For the vegan caramel recipe Photo Gallery Hope you love this quick and easy pastry that is so filling and healthy at the same time, who said skimping on some sugar would taste this good. Ps: add a little folded crown on the inside to find out who will be king and who should provide the next galette de rois party! M*
Super soft pretzel bagels
Soft pretzel bagels are just what I need today. It’s been a pretty long winter and since the festive season, I have been thinking of these gorgeous beauties that I ate almost every day with my son at the markets. Bread has become such comfort and solace for me and nothing beats a freshly baked pretzel.
Chocolate orange babka
Chocolate orange babka is such a beautiful bread recipe. It has all the flavors of winter in each bite. The chocolate walnut and orange flavors are just absolutely wonderful together if you are a citrus lover or not. I never really loved orange in sweet baked desserts or bread, but since making this winter melody, I am completely smitten!
Vegan Hertzoggies
Vegan Hertzoggie is a very popular South African traditional recipe. It was always a dream of mine to recreate this recipe into a more “healthier” version, and even though there is still a decent amount of sugar in it. The vegan meringue and shortcrust base come pretty close to the original and all that sugar don’t even matter with the first bite. Its international apricot day, I thought these cookies are the perfect recipe to share! These cookies are making me crave summer and home really badly. They were loved by my husband, our son and some of my friends (they had no clue they were vegan).
Ultimate vegan rusks
The ultimate vegan rusks are just my absolute favorite rusk recipe that I had to share. Rusks is a very well known breakfast must have in South Africa. Our parents and their parents grew up knowing this dried sweet bread as a meal that can’t go without. Till today my husband and I enjoy rusks with our breakfast and shares a few bites here and there with our son. There is few that comes close to a good nostalgic rusk!
Chai spiced pecan banana bread
I can’t believe Christmas is only a couple days away. This week has been quite hard because I have been missing my family back in SA so much. I think this time of year is super special and also hard in a lot of ways. For us, it’s the fact that life goes on over here and you kind live in these seasons apart from what your family is experiencing back home. They have vacation, sunshine, and togetherness and over here we’re kind of slummin it on our own, whilst still working. Therefore I have been baking more than usual, so we can get more of the festive vibes going.
Caramel soaked pumpkin fritters
Caramel soaked pumpkin fritters are just amazing as they sound and look. I wanted to recreate my utmost favorite side dish that tastes like dessert. These fritters are life changing and you’ll want to make them for every Sunday lunch from now on. I thought they might be quite fitting for the Christmas day, just because absolutely spoiling yourself is what it’s all about!